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watercolor paperWatercolor painting typically involves using a lot of water. Paper can handle that, but one of its properties is that it expands when wet. When the paper expands, it results in "bumps and hollows." Pigment will have difficulty adhering to the bumps, while it will collect in the hollows. This doesn't always achieve the desired effect. When the paper dries, however, it doesn't always shrink back evenly, so annoying bumps may remain. To solve this problem, you need to stretch paper lighter than about 300gsm for watercolor painting.

paper adhesive tapeHeavier paper will only slightly warp and pull fairly smoothly even without stretching. Most types of paper have a front and back side and a watermark. Hold the sheet up to the light. If you can read the watermark, you're looking at the right side.

If necessary, cut your paper to size. Keep in mind that if you need to secure the sheet with strips of paper tape, there will be less paper left. The best results are achieved when you stretch the paper yourself. There are two methods for this. You can stretch the paper with a so-called stretching frame or you can stick it with paper tape to a sturdy water-resistant surface.
Stretching frameProcedure with a stretching frame:
There are so-called stretching frames available with which you can stretch your paper. You don't need tape for this. However, your paper size depends on the size of your stretching frame. You can't stretch a sheet that's too small. The procedure is very simple.
wetting the paperCompletely wet your sheet of paper, for example by placing it in the bathtub. You can also wet it thoroughly with the shower head. Both the front and back of your paper should be wet. Let the water soak in for a few minutes and wet it again if necessary.
paper on the stretching frameThen place your sheet neatly on the stretching frame where you have removed the bars. Carefully push the bars back into the slots, gently pushing the paper along with it. Always take two opposite sides at a time, otherwise your paper will warp. Now just let it dry and you're done.
Method with hard surface and adhesive tapeProcedure with water-resistant surface and tape:

If you don't have a stretching frame or want to use different paper sizes, buy a sturdy sheet of water-resistant plywood, at least about 6 to 8 mm thick. The larger your sheet, the thicker it should be to prevent warping. The size of the sheet should be large enough to leave about 3 to 5 cm of paper around it. You need this to stick your paper. Attach the paper with specially developed acid-free tape.
adhesive tape and a wet spongeThe paper tape is available in widths from 45 mm to 70 mm. I usually use tape that is 60 mm wide. The white tape is slightly less strong than the brown one. Therefore, especially for larger paper sizes, use the brown paper tape. Wet the strips with a damp sponge.
Step 1 - put the wet paper flat on the surfaceCut 2 strips of paper tape as long as the width of your paper plus 10 cm, and cut 2 strips of paper tape as long as the length of your paper plus 10 cm. Have these ready next to your board. Do this with dry hands to prevent the tape from getting wet. Also, prepare a bowl of water and a small sponge. Use a wet but squeezed-out sponge to moisten your tape. Wet your paper well and let the water soak in for a few minutes. Then lay it neatly on your board and gently sweep away air bubbles with a flat hand.
Step 2 - Stick the stripsNow wet the strips and stick them about 1/3 to 1/2 over the paper and the rest on the board. Always do two opposite sides at a time.
Step 3 - Let it dry, laying flatPress them firmly. Now let your board dry lying down. Don't put it upright, as this can tear your paper on one side. When your artwork is finished and completely dry, carefully cut it loose from your board along the outer edge of your paper. Now you still have a strip of tape on your board. You can remove this by wetting it well. Let the moisture soak in and then the tape will easily come off the board. Your board is now ready for use again.
Alternative - Glued watercolor blocks Alternative:

If you find this difficult, you can also buy blocks where the paper is already stretched, usually glued on 3 or 4 sides. During work, these blocks may still warp, but after drying, your artwork will be smooth again. Only when your artwork is completely dry, you can carefully cut it loose from your block.